MOPSA THE FAIRY (Classics of children's literature, 1621-1932) [Hardcover]

Ingelow (Author)

Book Description

Series: Classics of children's literature, 1621-1932 | Publication Date: April 1, 1977

Relates the adventures of a mortal boy and the fairy child, Mopsa, as they journey through Fairyland.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Jean Ingelow became one of the most famous poets of her period, and though she is now remembered in this way by only a few poems in anthologies, many people suggested that when Tennyson died, she should succeed him as Poet Laureate. Nevertheless, she is now remembered best by one book, her strange and haunting fantasy for children, Mopsa the Fairy (1869). She wrote several other books for adults, but Mopsa the Fairy has always held a place apart, which Charlotte M. Yonge ranked with Alice in Wonderland. --From the Introduction to the original Lippincott edition.

Mopsa the Fairy is a marvelous fantasy, and greatly deserving of more currency among the children of the 21st century. Like George McDonald's At the Back of the North Wind, The Princess and the Goblins, The Princess and Curdy, and Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies, it represents a moving characterization of both the cruelties and the absurdities of human culture toward the natural world and toward other beings, both human and animal. --The editor, Mary M. Leue, in the Introduction to the Down-to-Earth edition --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jean Ingelow was born on 17th March at Boston in Lincolnshire, England, and lived there until she was fourteen, when she moved to Ipswich with her parents. She was brought up very strictly, was never taught dancing, and never entered a theatre. Her parents discouraged authorship, but when they gave her no paper she scribbled verses on the white shutters in her bedroom, until they came to realize that she had been endowed with the literary talent which should be encouraged and not buried. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Dissertations-G; 1 edition (April 1, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082402284X
• ISBN-13: 978-0824022846
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,791,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a Victorian fairy tale, January 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: MOPSA THE FAIRY (Classics of children's literature, 1621-1932) (Hardcover)

A young boy struggles to return a baby fairy to Fairyland, while his human touch changes her. This is a beautifully crafted book with a sweet message and gorgeous illustrations.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, but still okay., January 30, 2008

By 

A. Davis (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mopsa The Fairy (Paperback)

I ordered this version based on a review that said it had illustrations. The paperback version does *not* have any. Also, the text layout is poorly designed, with no breaks between chapters. Some of the pages end with the next chapter title and one line of text. It's obvious the publisher did not pay much attention to design. This is essentially a "script" of the text, all run together, rather than a nice copy of the book. However, this text is typically hard to find except in old library editions, so I am still glad it's being made available again. Just realize that if you decide to buy it, it will not be a "nice" version.

5.0 out of 5 stars What real fairy tales are all about..., October 23, 2011

By 

Nancy "the Number Girl" (Oklahoma City, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mopsa the Fairy (Hardcover)

Ooooh, Mopsa The Fairy is a WONDERFUL, magical, childhood-mysteries book, in the old-fashioned English genre of the more serious, almost-reality-flavored, "it could happen in the blink of an eye" fantasy... not in the cutesy, bland, predictable, "pastel-bunny and stupid voices" habits of modern childrens' story pap and supposed "fairy tale" representations, but in the broader, darker, more possibility-expansive and dreamlike wonderings of what could happen in this world of INFINITE ideas and realities. It's old-fashioned, of course, and that brings such yummy nostalgia as more graciousness, tenderer subtleties, a quaint and respectful formality, more nuanced colors (charming yet also sometimes somehow vaguely disturbing images), lending immeasurably to its story's twists and turns...

There are actually many free versions online... often b&w-illustrated... but THE BEST ONE -- to me -- is the 1910 version (with a red cover) I read as a child, which contains glorious and quirky images in lovely vintage color (by Maria L. Kirk), on the Univ. of Pennsylvania Libraries, "A Celebration of Women Writers" website, at [...]

This is a classic to own -- but if you want the full and satisfying experience, do not purchase any paperback... you will not get near the advantages, images, or the thrill of this juicy reading opportunity.

Oh, yeah, this is what fairy tales are really all about...